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Every person has a style, and every style deserves support. Enter your style strategy cheerleader and founder of BU Style, Natalie Tincher. Since 2010 Natalie has worked with hundreds of personal clients as well as large corporations and a major global news network—and she is here to guide you.
In this podcast, you will gain clarity and insights on how to connect your style with your authentic self through Natalie's style expertise as well as interviews with other style-supporting guests like designers, clients, and other professionals in and out of the fashion industry.
Whether you love fashion, fear fashion, or fall somewhere in between, it doesn't matter. This isn't about fashion; it's about exploring who you are and how to own your unique style identity. This podcast will help you cut through the noise and examine your personal style holistically so you can "wear who you are" every day.
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biking in heels, biking to flip flops. That's another thing. Good for them. I applaud that. That's an Olympic sport in my book. Welcome to Wear Who You Are, a podcast that takes the fear out of fashion and holds space for everyone to explore how to connect your authenticity with your personal style. I'm your host, Natalie Tinscher, founder of VU Style, expert style strategist, and your enthusiastic friend and safe space of support. I believe that
Every person has a style and every style deserves a seat. With over a decade of experience working with hundreds of personal clients, I've learned a thing or two about how to help others have a healthy and holistic approach to navigating how to build a wardrobe that reflects who you are. So pull up your seat and let's get started.
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And welcome back to our style-centric corner of the world, Where Who You Are. Today, we're privileged to host an expert in recognizing and harnessing great style, someone who truly understands the unpredictable fun and play of fashion from a global perspective and is best known for her remarkable street style photography. I love it. My team loves it. Check it out. And meet Karya Shanilak, a creative force who lives in New York City, but who travels the world for her work and who just got back from gallivanting around for Fashion Week.
She came jet lagged from Paris and we are so grateful that she took the time to meet with us because she's got her finger on the pulse, so to speak. This conversation really lit my brain up. Kari and I talked about the heart of wear who you are and the heart of the BU style ethos, how to illuminate the process of identifying what makes an outfit truly great and then how to translate that inspiration into your own wardrobe. Not aspiration, but inspiration and the important difference between the two.
We've done an episode on that before that I'll link in the show notes from the bustling streets of global fashion weeks to the where who you are podcast room. This is an industry insider episode with street style photographer, Karya Shanalak.
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Well, hello. I am so excited to welcome our next guest, Karya Shanalak. Karya, thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me. It's so exciting. We at our team really admire your work. And I can't wait to dive into personal style through your lens. But first, just tell us where you're recording from. I live in Brooklyn, New York City. And I'm currently recording from my office. Is that where you're from?
No, I'm actually from Seattle or kind of right outside of Seattle. Yeah, so I'm a Pacific Northwest girl at heart, but I have been living in New York for five years. You've made a good New York mark. remember when I hit five years and I'm like, okay, this might be my city. It feels pretty good. Yeah. I mean, as soon as I moved here, I kind of knew that it was going to be a long-term move. People ask me, know, do you ever see or like, are you coming back to Seattle anytime soon? I'm like, not permanently,
This is, this is where I want to be. I got a lot of the same questions. I'm from Indiana originally, and it was like, so how long are you staying in New York? And I remember it being like, after a couple of years, I was like, for forever. that's something really compelling makes me leave. that's amazing. So tell us a little bit more about what you do. Yeah. So I am a photographer by trade and my specialty is street style photography and fashion.
And I have also breached into the world of content creation and trend reporting, trend forecasting, sharing with people on the internet what people are wearing, what trends I'm spotting as I am shooting out on the street, both just every day in New York City on my travels. And then my kind of bread and butter is fashion week, especially New York fashion week. But I have done the whole circuit as well.
Amazing that we will talk about fashion week and our listeners really love a good trend report and I'm excited to dive into it from the lens of also street style and what you've seen but really so much of what we love that you do too is that while you are in fashion you are so approachable and kind with it and you really understand the importance of wearing who you are and being inclusive and building community which is so much about what we're about and I find it
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so refreshing in our industry when we find like-minded people. Thank you. Yeah, it is really exciting to find like-minded people and be able to talk about it. It's fun. So let's talk about it. Tell us where you've been traveling a lot recently. Where have you traveled? Yes. So I just got back from Paris two days ago. I'm still pretty jet lagged. But I was in Paris for
10 days for Paris Fashion Week. And that is one of the main cities that I go to two to three times a year for the fashion seasons. Then of course, I live in New York. I do fashion New York Fashion Week twice a year as well. But then I have also, I have done the full circuit kind of in section. So the full circuit is Copenhagen. It's like the extra one Copenhagen and then London. I have done as well, Milan.
and then New York to Paris. Yeah. What are your favorites? Do you have one? Can you pick one? Yes, by far Copenhagen is my favorite. And I just love the style there. is, you know, if we're talking about like wearing who you are, like that is absolutely what Copenhagen style, Scandinavian style is all about. They do a really great job, you know, both brands and then the individual like influencers and stylists who are attending shows and are who I just
see every day on the street as well. They do a really great job of mixing and matching high and low, new and vintage. I just really love the self-expression that they have there while following trends, but staying true to their personal expression. It feels like there's a good consistency while, like you said, they're following trends. There's still a very consistent point of view in Scandi style. Yes, absolutely. Yeah.
I think the biggest contribution to that is their focus on sustainability and vintage clothing, secondhand clothing, finding really unique pieces. So it doesn't feel like everybody's wearing the same exact piece. are, or, you know, have like the same exact bag or something like that. Like they are finding variations on the trend that are more unique, more unique now or more appropriate for like their style or whatever they're doing.
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So yeah, I just find so much inspiration there. Even Copenhagen Fashion Week is about half the length of any other week, but it is just like packed, like visually packed, schedule packed with just so much great inspiration. That's so fun. I love Copenhagen as well. And I love the style there. I find, I think that's so interesting, your point of it's still an individuality within sort of a cultural
subtext, but it's all based on a practice too. It feels like it's all around an ethos that exists geographically. And how do you feel then having this international perspective helps you identify anywhere you go, kind of trends and a global trend, and then also these little subcultural trends? Yeah, I definitely notice on my travels a lot of
differences in trends and just kind of generally, you know, like style ethos based on that culture, you know, what they do day to day, what their weather is like, what, you know, resources they have, or, you know, kind of just like brands and exposure and shopping that they have availability for. because, you know, in like countries like Copenhagen or cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, like they're biking so much. and though the weather is a little...
colder, wetter, snowier. So they kind of have a more like utilitarian element to their style versus in New York, know, people are mostly like taking the subway. So you're kind of more subway or walking, maybe driving. So your style and you're just kind of like, you know, how you put your outfits together are different that way too. Like,
I don't know, the, you know, in New York, there's kind of like the subway outfit, subway shoe that you wear and then you change your office. I don't know, Copenhagen, Instagram, like you see people biking in heels and that's just, you know, it's just what they do. So there is, yeah, I know it's pretty wild biking in heels, in flip flops. That's another thing. Good for them. I applaud that. That's an Olympic sport in my book. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. That was another, another like big difference.
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could tell between Copenhagen and New York. Copenhagen is a very clean city. so people, can wear flip-flops and open-toed shoes comfortably there. In New York, would never ever, maybe to go to the boudet on the corner, but not to spend a full day in my wearing flip-flops. So, a little bit a That was one of the first things I noticed when I moved to New York and when I met my husband, who is not from New York and
I moved here, he was, he's a San Diego boy. was wearing flip-flops. I you can't do that. We're getting on a train and commuting somewhere. No, we need full foot cover. This is not a thing. In terms of when you're going to all these different fashion weeks, what do you notice about the way people show up to each of the shows based on geography? Like in terms of
you know, like dressing, do they, you know, casual or do they, is there like a certain style that you identify where some people are like, this is fashion week, I'm turning up differently, kind of more over the top or more austere? Yeah, I think, I don't think that there's a huge difference city to city. I think it's more of a difference of like the type of show within the cities and maybe some cities.
tend to have more of one type of show. People on the lawn are wearing more like the ethos of those brands, heels, suits, gowns, dresses, versus a show that might be a little more of a street wear or an emerging design, or people might be a little more casual or edgy. And we see a lot more of those in New York. So in New York, it tends to kind of have that more of that vibe. So I think it kind of depends on.
what shows are on the schedule for that city, and what are those brands like? Well, because they're attracting and bringing in their audiences that align with their brand aesthetic. Exactly. So that would make perfect sense. When you're taking photos, how do people react to having their photos taken around the world? So they're different, you know, kind of environment that I'm taking photos in. For fashion weeks, people are expecting their photos to be taken.
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they want it. Everybody wants the press of having street style photo. Some people will just kind of keep it candid, give you a smile. And then some people will be more posy. It also depends on how the photographer kind of reacts to that person. They might want them to pose or they might want them to be more candid. So you can kind of like play around. People are game for usually whatever in that environment. And every day,
street style, you know, just like going out on the street in New York City. It's a very, you know, some people, you know, I might be in a neighborhood where people are expecting and you know, the condos knowingly smile or wave and say, hi, I really go like, what's your Instagram? They kind of know, you know, what's going on. If they notice some people don't notice, I like to be more like a little more covert and candid. I like, you know, kind of be happy to be like, they don't notice me. That's just more my style.
But then some, know, every once in a while, somebody will notice and be like, please don't take my photo. I'm like, that's fine. And I will delete the photo. You know, the rules at least in, you know, in New York and in the United States, I have the right to be taking somebody's photo if they are in a public place. You know, if we're inside of a private space, you know, then I don't, I don't have that right. But then you'll also have to respect somebody's glitches. So it's a delicate balance when I'm doing
shooting in these environments that aren't set up around, you know, there being photographers all the time. Yeah, for sure. Well, and then how did you, are you, is there a shyness that you have or how did you get over that? You know, I would, for me, it would be a potential barrier of being so interested in the people, but then, you know, taking their photos or having maybe some of those reactions that's like, don't do it. Was there like a personal barrier you had to overcome for that?
Absolutely. And I feel like I'm still overcoming that barrier. I, yeah, I'll have some days where I do feel a little more bold and some days where I feel a little more shy. Some days where I will really be like, really trying to be more covert and candid. And sometimes where I'll just kind of have more of an extroverted feeling and stop people talk to people, you know, it just, it really depends for me. I
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Yeah, I don't I don't have a secret answer. I don't have, it comes and goes. think especially if I kind of like take a break from it, usually I won't shoot as much in like the winter and then I'll kind of come back to it in the spring. And it's kind of like, how do do this? Or now I kind of have to warm myself back.
I experience that with clients. take a little winter break with seeing them. then sometimes even though you know you're a pro, you know you're an expert, you know you can do it, but then there's those first day of school scarries. yeah, absolutely. Yes. Can I do this? yeah, I can. I got the two, kind of like the first half day or so of a fashion week as well. It's been a couple months and then the first day of near fashion week.
Kat, you have to recalibrate your brain to start, you know, looking for the things and reacting and well, sing and then you get the muscle memory kicks back in. For sure. Yep. I can resonate with that. Well, we do love your street style portraits and I wanted to just hear from your perspective. How did you first start training your eye in terms of like spotting a great outfit? Probably just exposure, you know, just start.
looking and shooting. feel like when I first started in street style, I was just kind of shooting everything and anything that I saw. And then I just started honing in on, you know, what I like to shoot, what I thought shot would shoot well. And then as I became more aware of trends and, you know, how my work could fit into trend reporting, then I really started honing my brain and my
my eyes for specifically picking out those pieces that I was looking for. What do you notice first about someone? Is it the person? Is it the outfit? Does it depend? It depends. Obviously, if somebody is wearing a very bold out there outfit, is something that I will first spot. I'll spot like a flash of color across the street or
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know or a specific piece that I kind of have in the back of my mind that I am looking to capture and report on. But then sometimes I will just notice a person and they just look really cool. They could be wearing a very minimalist, maybe not that trendy, but they are just wearing it with a lot of confidence. And it's just like, okay, yeah, I'm going to take a photo of them. So it really, really depends.
so much with that body language, I'm sure, where you're like, they are just in something simple, but they are wearing it. So it feels fresh on them because it's just who they are. It feels like it was like a match made in their own personal style alignment heaven. Yes, exactly. What about your own personal style? Do you feel like it creates a bias? Do you gravitate toward people that you're like, I love their style and I feel like it
it feels like my style as well, or is it truly objective? No, I definitely have some bias. I'll also see somebody wearing something or an outfit combination and I'll immediately think, I would definitely wear that or I would wear that piece or that's a really interesting way to style that piece, pairing different pieces together and outfit. Yeah, it's interesting. Sometimes I'll be out with another photographer and
they will spot something that they really like. And I'm just kinda like, okay, it's nice, but like, don't have the same, like, they're just like, my God, I love this outfit so much. So I think we do each have our own personal biases that come out a little bit. Of course, and that's why style and fashion is so beautiful, because it is personal. It's not, you know, there isn't an objectivity of this is the right.
outfit or the right way to wear something. And so that's how we're inspired by this as art, right? Yeah, absolutely. So in terms then of you talked about trends, and this is so interesting to me, especially in this world of really fast micro trends and fads, how do you start noticing wardrobe trends and then what you feel like is going to have some staying power within your trend reporting? Yeah. So how I start noticing things is
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just I start to notice the pattern. I have heard from other people that as soon as you see something three times, it's a trend. So I kind of go by that kind of rule of thumb. If I start seeing something interesting three or more times, then I'll kind of note it. And then if it's 10 or more times, then it's like, And then if I continue to see it season after season,
then I know that it is more of a macro trend than a micro trend. That's maybe just like a flash in the pan for that season. Fun and cute, but it doesn't have a lot of staying power for the long term. But it probably doesn't have core after it. It probably does have core after it. Yeah, you'd be surprised. Actually, I was just thinking the longevity of ballet core. It is truly...
a macro trend now. Yeah, I really like it was maybe like 2022 when we really started talking about it. And then I feel like it kind of slowed down a little bit. But this past season, especially what was coming down the runways, I don't know if you saw the Ferragamo runway, they really like heavily into ballet core. So I'm like, okay, it's still kicking. Like, I think it's macro trend. That's well, you know what, it's funny, because to your point, ballet flats, I've been saying for the last
multiple years. It's like, ballet flats, there's been a rebellion against sneakers, but there's still, you know, not a lot of us still want to wear heels. that's, you know, it's like the loafers, the classic minimalism and then ballet flats are your essentially your two answers for a non-heeled option, right? Yeah, absolutely. And then I've also seen ballet sneakers are just kind of, you know, like
fancier sneakers that might have the lacing and a little more traditionally girly elements. So it's not as like the dad sneaker, the very athletic sneaker that was very popular for a while. Now there's more of a hybrid. Awesome. So what other macro trends are you seeing right now? We always like to tell about macro trends because it lets our listeners understand what you can invest in, like buy better now and then this is
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probably gonna be around for a while. Yeah, absolutely. I did a video about this a minute ago, so I'm trying remember. I think one of them was sheer, like just sheerness. thought that that was gonna be more of like a micro trend with sheer skirts. We were seeing a lot of those for a while, but now it's kind of bleeding out to other pieces as well.
Yeah, still sheer skirts, sheer dresses. We're seeing more sheer tops, we're seeing sheer shoes. We like the mesh flats. Starting to see sheer jackets, sheer bags, more like fishnetty. So I'm really seeing that grow more and more each season. And it is a little surprising and not surprising at the same time, because I think it is, I don't know, it feels like it's a really hard trend to adopt.
for some people, but maybe not, I don't know. I'm not personally not a huge fan of it, just personally, but I see other people actually rocking it and it encourages me to be a little more open-minded about it. I love that. that's, you know, our eyes get trained to probably for you, I'm guessing you see it over and over and you're like, okay, maybe I should be open-minded. I'm seeing this a lot. There must be something to it. Even if it's not for me or I don't get it.
there's something to it. Absolutely. Yeah. And I do, I do think that that is something that happens a lot with these micro turned macro trends. Like I remember, what was that like 2019 bike shorts started becoming a trend everywhere and street style everywhere. And like, I remember bursting that being like, I don't know about that. And then fast forward six months, I only wear bike shorts and I still wear bike shorts, you know, in the summer.
So you just, you just never know what's. Sorry, I was one of those people. that, that story is making me nod my head. Cause I remember laughing. I'm like, okay. then I was like, that's right. It's really easy to throw them on oversized shirt in the summer. Like, yeah, it's kind of easy. Yeah. You never know. I, yeah. So when you're taking street style portraits for then paying.
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clients, how do you work with their own clothes and style and guide them to create a cohesive image that merges art and their own personal brand and style? Absolutely. So I'll usually do a little bit of an intake beforehand. You know, I'll ask them what their personal style is, what they categorize that as, you know, whether that is classic, bohemian or girly or however they want to classify it.
And from there, I'll come back with like some options of like, okay, do you want more of like, like a grungy city setting or more of like a polished city setting? And or you want to be in a park? You want to, you know, give them some options there and we'll kind of whittle it down to what exactly is going to, you know, fit exactly their style, what they're bringing and what they're wanting to convey with whatever they're shooting, you know, so whether it's an individual who
You know, we're kind of shooting their branding images or just images for Instagram. And how do they want to convey that? if I'm shooting with a brand, you know, what do they want to convey with the products of, know, kind of letting whoever they're marketing to envision themselves in that environment. So it's a very, it's a very collaborative process. You know, sometimes, sometimes a client will come to me with a very clear vision and sometimes we kind of have to collaborate on it.
And then in terms of the wardrobe and then where you choose if you have the choice of a setting and you're suggesting it, how do you merge those two like in terms of maybe a neighborhood or a spot or the environments around them? How do you merge those elements? Yeah, I like to try to have my subject be interactive with the environments as much as they can.
Because I do like the more, you know, like candid, like you're actually living there. You're not kind of just like placed in the middle of the sidewalk. And then you're just there. Like I wanted to kind of more feel like you're coming out of doorways, you're walking downstairs, you're sitting down and putting your bag down on a table or, know, if I'm doing like a shoe shot, I want it to be, you know, you can kind of see walking across the crosswalk, but the zebra star stripes are going upstairs. It kind of feels like you're.
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you're doing something in your environment rather than just like... story. Story, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, a little more of a storytelling element than just you're here and there's no context, there's no story, yeah. I would say as someone who is not always traditionally comfortable in front of the camera,
That's an easier way for me. And speaking of people who are uncomfortable like me in front of the camera, what are some tips that you have and they want to break that to just feeling, yeah, but more at ease in the camera. Because all your shots, everyone looks so at ease. And that's something I love is that it just feels like you could be plunked into the conversation with them or.
walking with them to grab the coffee or whatever it is. So help me. Yeah, absolutely. So I mean, I like for my style, you know, it does not need to be posy at all. It can be very natural. then maybe, you know, I'll kind of give you some tips of kind of like how to cheat cheat out for the camera, you know, lower your shoulders, lift your chin, those kind of things that kind of make up more, you know, camera presentable rather.
But I really do just tell people like, just walk, just walk. And then maybe I'll, yeah, give this pointers and just walk again. And you'll be surprised, know, just the naturalness of that. And, you know, and then a lot, a lot of that is then on my part of just kind of making sure that I'm getting the right angle, the right framing. So I'll just kind of like let you be you and I'll do most of the work.
Really? feels like find a good photographer who makes you feel natural, first of all, is what I'm hearing. And two, pretend like the camera's not there besides the few tips. Truly. Yeah. Yeah. I really like, I encourage people not to look at the camera as much as they can, you know, you can, yeah, look side to side and you can look at the camera a few times, but like, you don't need to be making eye contact with me the entire time. And that also makes it more natural and more like,
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the viewer is just kind of popped into this story, this situation with you. You're so good at this. You truly are. I would love to now talk about your personal style a little bit because I found it so interesting when I looked at it, at your approach and what your style personalities are and how aligned they were once I got to know you. And it was very cool. So I have your...
BU style six results. Did you have fun taking the assessment? Yeah, yeah, I did. So, Karya came out highest in relaxed and soft followed very closely by creative. So what that means to walk you through that is relaxed is that you want people to feel empowered. You want to be like the cheerleader, but there's an element of in your wardrobe comfort. That comfort is very important to you.
or making people feel comfortable. then soft is almost in tandem, but opposite in terms of general, like introversion and extroversion, but soft is the person that is the safe space in the room and that you also dress to be approachable. Oftentimes it is more traditionally feminine style or maybe like a little bit of a retro style, but it is to note like.
I am warm, am kind, I'm friendly, I'm a safe person. And then of course, creative is that lens of mixing the unexpected or anything goes, or maybe there's a wild card in there, in your thinking and in your wardrobe. How does that feel for you? That feels pretty darn aligned. Yes, I definitely like comfort is the...
absolutely number one thing for me, know, just how I'm working, traveling a lot. just, yeah, I just want to be comfortable. I don't have time for uncomfortable clothing. Yeah, it's interesting, yeah, the comfort and like the soft and then the creative, because I'm actually making a lot of my clothing these days. yeah. Like I made this. That's so cool. wearing it right now. my gosh. How did you get into that? What inspired you?
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I've always, I mean, I grew up a very creative kid. I tried, did all the different things, acting, dancing, painting, all fiber arts. And my mom is a, she was a sewing teacher, she's retired, but she's still, yeah. So I just grew up being very hands-on creative. you know, photography was the thing that really, really stuck. And
you know, I eventually made a career out of it, but I was really passionate about fiber arts, you know, sewing, knitting, especially. And then I kind of got off of it, you know, as I like moved to New York and, know, all these different things. And then about a year ago, I picked it back up, you know, kind of needed something to do with my hands. That wasn't just being on my cone. Yep. So I picked up fiber arts again, and just like,
just dove back into the obsession and I also learned how to crochet and that has really been my obsession in the last six months is crocheting. So this is crocheted. It's so beautiful. Thank you. Yeah. Let me show you what I'm working on right now. This is going to be a sweater, like a cardigan. Ooh, I love the colors. This is not a visual medium, but yeah. But yeah, so I...
Yeah, it's very interesting to be like, okay, yeah, creative in my fashion. I do like to be a little more edgy, kind of more like some like statement pieces, but truly like I am physically creating a lot of my clothes these days. I think that's so cool. And that makes me think, we're similar in the fact that we're exposed to so much fashion and so many clothes. How do you reconcile? I think this would be very useful for the listeners to
utilize these tips for themselves of, you know, seeing things are beautiful and there's so much of it to say like beautiful but not for me, beautiful I don't need to buy this or beautiful I don't need to make this. How do you then curate your own wardrobe choices? I mean, I think the main factors are comfort and affordability. Truly. Yeah.
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I mean, I will see a lot of things and millions of pieces and trends, know, are in front of my eyes every day. And then, you maybe I will go to the store and I'll try something on and I'll just immediately just kind of be like, no, this is not the direction that I want to go in or, you know, this is not comfortable for me. This is kind of fabric type that I just don't see myself, you know, being comfortable and wearing this over and over again.
yeah, I'm really, I'm really trying to avoid just buying trendy pieces and wearing them once, not really liking them, but like feeling like I needed to wear it for no reason. So yeah, I don't know. I, I feel like I've, I've gotten a lot better with myself. Kind of just being like honest and being like, you're not going to wear that. Like put it, put it down, put it back. Like you had your fun dressing up in the dressing room, but like, this isn't going to be something that is worth your money.
But I feel like I still get to kind of experience them and like appreciate them and you know, kind of curate these little videos and posts and stuff like that. That be just kind of being like, I really like this when other people wear them and I'm gonna share that. And that's all it needs to be. I don't need to go out and buy it for myself. But yeah, when I first started doing this, it was really, really tempting. I did want.
everything and I still kind of want everything but I feel like my mentality is a lot more. Yeah, just kind of like self aware of like, you don't need that. You're not gonna wear that or yeah. It's truly that I mean, I can relate to that because when I first started doing it, I'm like, that's fab and that's fab and then I realized that's great for this person and I get to help them and guide them and see them enjoy it and it is it's so aligned with them.
And it really, I think comes down to as you nailed it of, you know, it's your results and you and under taking that extra step of intentionality to say, am I really gonna wear this? Or am I talking myself into this in the room? Like you gotta have to really start knowing yourself to your point of like, yeah, this is beautiful, but the fabric is icky and I'm not gonna like it feels icky on my skin. I'm not gonna wear it. To me. Yeah, absolutely. Yes. And so I think it is like knowing yourself and truly
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being realistic about what you're putting, what you will want to grab out of your closet and put on your body to go through a busy day, because we're busy humans. Exactly. Yeah. I do not have time to be wearing something that I don't like. Agreed. Or it's just okay. Well, I would love to then. It's just okay. It's like, no, you want to feel amazing. mean, the world's hard enough. Find something that really supports.
that you're putting on your body as an extra armor of like love to yourself. Well, I would love to then wind down and do our fun little segment 10 and two, if you're ready for it. All right, we will get we'll dive right in. How do you define style? I define style as personal expression through material, material items, a trend you'd like to see disappear forever.
This is a dangerous question because I might say something I want to disappear and then in six months I might love it. I really- We'll give you grace. Skinny jeans. No, I don't know. I liked skinny jeans and now I'm definitely like a white-leg person and now I'm seeing skinny jeans coming back. I'm like, don't know. I don't know. Okay. Yeah. Just do that. We'll leave it there.
Three things you can't live without. My cat, a project to work on and matcha. Good one. A current obsession. mean, crochet truly is an absolute obsession. I'm just constantly doing it. I love that. A secret talent. I can do the splits. Middle or side? Side. I'm only on one side and it's been a while. I used to dance, but it's still like a party trick.
that I can like whip out every once in That's huge. I love that. Thank you. How do you relax? I really like to play like kind of cozy video games, like world like building, you know, that kind of thing that kind of like takes me out of takes me out of the real world for a little bit. That's cool. A cause that's important to you. A cause that's important to me
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is, I mean, related to fashion is promoting worn diversity within fashion. So whether that is size diversity, race diversity, gender diversity, just kind of making sure that fashion is for everybody within the space. That like made my heart sing. What you notice about someone when you first meet them, you meet a lot of people for the first time.
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, just because my brain is trained this way now, I do notice what they're wearing, absolutely. But yeah, I also just notice their body language as well, probably. What are you most excited about at this time in your life? At this time in my life, I'm just excited for what this quarter has in store for me, know, with the holidays, kind of like the post-fashion month.
time. Yeah, so like the last quarter of the year is always kind of like a wild card. So we'll see. Yeah, I'm excited to see what comes my way. Yeah, exactly. And finally, what's your affirmation for today? My affirmation is to be kind to myself, because I'm still very jelous. Be very kind to yourself always and especially when your body's exhausted.
Exactly. I've really enjoyed this conversation and you've given such a warm, welcoming, lovely light to the world of Fashion Week and trends. And I feel like the listeners are really, we're all gifted to have your kind and just soft and open approach. So thank you so much. How can we follow your work and how can we support you? Absolutely. So you can find me, ChefsBot Everywhere at
KariastreetStyle or also at like my full name, so Kariashanulak. I am most active on Instagram and followed by Pinterest. Pinterest is kind of like my photo dump where I pin like all of my photos. So you can find a lot of photos that I'm not posting on Instagram. And that's also a great place to share and kind of save and curate, you know, looks there. I'm such a
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huge advocate of Pinterest. love it. love it. Yeah. And then also my website, KoreaStreetStyle.com, see more of my work. And then if you are interested in working with me, you can also contact me through there. Awesome. And so people in especially New York can book one-on-one sessions with you as well. So we will link everything in the show notes and on Instagram and everywhere. And thank you again so much. And please get some rest, get some mosh just snuggle up with the cat and
be kind to yourself today. Thank you so much, Natalie. Thank you. Thanks, Karya.
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Wasn't that so much fun? Karya was such a delight and such a treat. Did you get her style personalities? I love looking at the spread of the Style 6 after these long conversations because they always align with how they carry themselves in the conversation. Karya was relaxed, thoughtful, open, and highly artistic. Everything about her was so authentic and part of who she is. Even her 10 in 2 answers. Matcha, cozy video games, creative crocheting. Amazing.
This conversation made me think about something that brings a lot of my clients some sadness and frustration. I actually think about it a lot. I think about it as this gap. It starts something like this. Sometimes we're out and about and we see someone on the street and we just love what they're wearing. So we go out and we get it. But then when we're wearing it, it just doesn't look or feel right on us. And it's disappointing. It can feel frustrating. It can feel like a waste of money and it can hurt our self-esteem.
But as the woman on the London Tube says, Love it. Just takes me back. But truly there is a gap between our true personal style and the aspirational clothes we've bought. And frankly, it can suck. But you can't bring yourself closer to that aspirational outfit. Remember that. What you have to do is to bring the clothes closer to your true self. Once that's in alignment and you're dressing for yourself and you're dressing authentically, that's
My friends is when the magic happens. I just loved this conversation with Karya and it really reminded me of why I love this work that I do and why I love this podcast. I hope you feel the same way. Thank you so much as always for wearing who you are with me. We'll see you next time. Thanks for joining another Where Who You Are Wednesday. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post about it on social media, or leave a rating and review.
Be sure to follow along for episode news, updates, and other bonus style insights on Instagram through my business account at B.U. Style. That's letters B, U, and style. Or my personal account at Natalie underscore Tinscher. And don't forget to subscribe to Wear Who You Are wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks again and see you next time.